Abstract: A master cylinder having first and second compensating ports with a plurality of openings therein for rapidly allowing fluid communication between a reservoir and first and second chambers to maintain the master cylinder in a ready condition with respect to an input force in the development of pressurized fluid to effect a brake application.

Abstract: The shuttle valve (10) has a valve member (30) which includes first (32) and second (36) diameter sections disposed within small diameter (22), reduced diameter (24), and enlarged diameter (26) bore sections of a stepped bore (14) located in a valve body (12). The small diameter bore section (22) communicates with a brake feedback line connection (20), the reduced diameter bore section (24) communicates with an outlet opening (40), and the enlarged diameter bore section (26) communicates with an inlet opening (50). The second diameter section (36) of the valve member (30) includes a transverse opening (44) which communicates with a longitudinal orifice opening (46) that leads to a chamber (48) located at an end of the valve member (30). Seals (60, 70) are disposed about the first and second diameter sections (32, 36), and the valve member (30) biased by a spring (80) toward an at-rest position.

Abstract: A master cylinder and proportioning valve therefor comprises a housing forming a bore with a piston movable therein and a porportioning valve engageable with the piston to control operaton of the proportioning valve in response to movement of the piston.

Abstract: Disc brake assembly (10) includes a phenolic piston (16) disposed within a bore (14) of a housing (11), the piston (16) movable relative to the housing (11) in order to engage brake shoe pads (18, 20) with the disc (22) of the brake assembly. An interior seal ring (42) and an exterior boot seal (60) are disposed between the bore (14) and piston (16) in order to prevent contaminants from entering into the bore and damaging the phenolic piston. Located between an annular groove (40) receiving the interior seal ring (42) and an exterior opening (50) receiving one end of the exterior boot seal (60), is a land (70). The land (70) is protected by a corrosion resistant barrier (80) which protects the land from oxidation and subsequent lock-up of the phenolic piston (16), and provides a low friction surface for engagement with the slidable piston.

Abstract: The hydraulic brake booster (12) includes a resilient member (96) disposed between an input member (94, 194, 294) and a pair of valve members (98, 101; 112) which control fluid pressure flow from an accumulator (14). When the input member (94, 194, 294) is actuated by the vehicle operator, theresilient member (96) is compressed so that the input member (94, 194, 294) moves relative to the valve members (98, 101; 112) and thus provides for greater movement of the input member (94, 194, 294) than for the valve members (98, 101; 112). The booster (12) includes a hydraulic or mechanical lockout which, in the absence of fluid pressure from the accumulator (14), eliminates the movement of the input member (94, 194, 294) relative to the valve members (98, 101; 112) so that the relative movement eliminated is not added to the valve stroke during manual operation of the booster (12).

Abstract: The pressure accumulator (10) comprises a cylindrical housing (12) having a bore (14) with a piston received slidably therein. The piston (30) has an H-shaped cross section and includes a reduced diameter portion (34) extending longitudinally along the piston (30), and a sealing device (36, 38) disposed at each end of the reduced diameter portion (34). A cylindrical sleeve (44) is received in the reduced diameter portion (34) such that each end of the sleeve (44) abuts a respective sealing device (36, 38). The housing (12) has an exterior circumferential groove (20) with an O-ring (26) therein, and a radial opening (22) extending between the circumferential groove (20) and bore (14).

Abstract: The accumulator comprises a housing (12, 212) having a bore (16, 216) extending longitudinally within the housing (12, 212), a piston (26, 226) disposed slidably within the bore (16, 216) and dividing the bore (16, 216) into first (18, 218) and second (20, 220) chambers. The piston (26, 226) has a bore (30, 230) with a bore opening (36, 236) at the first piston end (27, 227), the bore opening (36, 236) being enclosed by a sleeve member (70, 271). The sleeve member (70, 271) extends longitudinally away from the piston bore (30, 230) and into the first chamber (18, 218), the sleeve member (70, 271) having a sleeve opening (78, 273) permitting high pressure fluid contained within the first chamber (18, 218) to communicate freely with the piston bore (30, 230). A lubricating fluid (60, 260) is disposed about the first piston end (27, 227) and is prevented from entering into the piston bore (30, 230) by means of the sleeve member (70, 271).

Abstract: A brake booster (10, 210, 310) connected to a control circuit (120) provides a system for the continued braking of a vehicle when the vehicle is situated on an incline and the brake pedal (92) is released by the operator. Continued brake application is accomplished by utilizing a control circuit (120) responsive to vehicular attitude, clutch pedal position, ignition status, vehicular speed, and vehicular direction. The control circuit (120) is connected to the combination of a check valve and three-way solenoid valve (100, 200, 300) connected to a movable wall brake booster (10, 210, 310). The combination valve (100) is connected to a flexible hose (110) disposed interiorily of the booster (10), the other end of the flexible hose (110) connected to the input opening (32) of a three-way poppet valve (70) located at the central hub (30) of the booster (10).

Abstract: The pressure vessel comprises an accumulator (10) having a piston (16) disposed in a bore (14). The piston (16) has gas under pressure on one side thereof maintained within the bore (14) by means of a multiple seal in an opening (26) having first (28), second (32), and third diameter (36) sections. The multiple seal includes a fill screw (40) threadedly engaging the second diameter section (32) of the opening (26), the fill screw (40) having a conical surface (46) sealingly engaging a seat (31) between the first diameter (28) and second diameter (32) sections of the opening. A cap screw (70) is threadedly received within the third diameter section (36) and compresses an O-ring (60) between the cap screw (70) and housing (12). The cap screw (70) has an annular rib (77) which bites into a shoulder (34) of the body (12) to provide an additional seal for maintaining the gas under pressure within the bore (14).

Abstract: A brake booster (10, 210, 310) connected to a control circuit (120) provides for continued braking of a vehicle when the vehicle is situated on an incline and the brake pedal (92) is released by the operator. Continued brake application is accomplished by utilizing a control circuit (120) responsive to vehicular attitude, clutch pedal position, ignition status, vehicular speed, and vehicular direction. The control circuit (120) is connected to a combination check valve and three-way solenoid valve (100, 200, 300) connected to a movable wall brake booster (10, 210, 310). The combination valve (100) is connected to a flexible hose (110) disposed interiorily of the booster (10), the other end of the flexible hose (110) connected to the input opening (32) of a three-way poppet valve (70) located at the central hub (30) of the booster (10).

Abstract: A tandem brake booster (10) having a first wall (24) and a second wall (28) which move in opposite directions in response to a pressure differential created by allowing air to be communicated to a control chamber (26) while vacuum is present in operational chambers (20) and (30). As wall (28) moves straps (124 . . . 124.sup.N) pulls an annular projection (32) to combine the force produced in the second wall (28) with the force produced in the first wall (24). As the operational force is transmitted into push rod (56) from hub (34), sleeve (37) prevent the reaction disc (50) from being extruded into passage (40) and as such, the reaction force is carried into plunger (64) to provide an operator with an indicator of the operation of the brake booster (10).

Abstract: A brake booster (10, 210) connected to a control circuit (120) provides a system for the continued braking of a vehicle when the vehicle is situated on an incline and the brake pedal (92) is released by the operator. Continued brake application is accomplished by utilizing a control circuit (120) responsive to vehicular attitude, clutch pedal position, and vehicular direction. The control circuit (120) is connected to the combination of a check valve and two-way solenoid valve (100, 200) connected to a movable wall brake booster (10, 210). The combination valve (100) is connected to a flexible hose (110) disposed interiorily of the booster (10), and the other end of the flexible hose (110) connected to the input opening (32) of a three-way poppet valve (70) located at the central hub (30) of the booster (10).

Abstract: A retention arrangement for holding an output push rod (70) in a vacuum brake booster (10). The output push rod (70) has a plastic plunger section (36) and a metal insert (70). The plastic section (36) is held in a movable wall of the brake booster by a clip member (46) while the metal insert (70) is held in the plastic plunger (36) by a magnetized rubber seal (50).

Abstract: The pressure accumulator (10) comprises a cylindrical housing (12) having a bore (14) with a piston received slidably therein. The piston (30) has an H-shaped cross section and includes a reduced diameter portion (34) extending longitudinally along the piston (30), and a sealing device (36, 38) disposed at each end of the reduced diameter portion (34). A cylindrical sleeve (44) is received in the reduced diameter portion (34) such that each end of the sleeve (44) abuts a respective sealing device (36, 38). The housing (12) has an exterior circumferential groove (20) with an O-ring (26) therein, and a radial opening (22) extending between the circumferential groove (20) and bore (14).

Abstract: A height sensing proportioning valve comprises a housing with a bore receiving a valve number and a poppet member. A control assembly extends into a pocket defined by the housing in spaced relation to the bore to control the setting of the poppet member. The control assembly and the poppet member are provided with magnets.

Abstract: A power assist apparatus (18) having a first shell (32) connected to a second shell (34) by a twist lock arrangement (41). The shells (32) and (34) are made of a light weight and flexible material such that when subjected to temperatures above 120.degree. F. the pressure differential created by vacuum on the inside of the shells (32 & 34) and atmospheric pressure on the outside of the shells (32 & 34) a crushing force is produced that urges the end (33) of the shell (32) toward shell (34). A plurality of struts (98) located between the shells (32 & 34) resists this crushing force to maintain the minimum spacial relationship between shells (32 & 34).

Abstract: A brake booster includes a housing with at least one piston therein to separate a pressure chamber from a work chamber. A valve assembly carried by the one piston is operable to communicate fluid pressure to the work chamber to move the piston. An input assembly is movable to control operation of the valve assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster includes a housing with a bore for receiving a first piston, a second piston and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a sleeve with a bore receiving a first valve member and a second valve member. The valve member cooperates with an input member to define a cavity within the sleeve and a resilient travel block is disposed within the cavity in engagement with the valve member and the input member.

Abstract: A self-resetting warning actuator (42) for a vehicle brake system includes a housing (27) having a bore (44) which defines a recess (58). A pair of pressure responsive pistons (50, 54) are received in the housing bore and each is exposed to the pressure in one brake circuit. A roller member (48) is disposed in the housing recess and between the pistons. When the brake system is operating normally, the pressures in the two brake circuits are substantially equal and the pistons define a neutral position. Should one of the circuits fail, the pistons are shifted from their neutral position by the resulting pressure difference between the circuits. The housing recess defines a ramp which forces the roller member between the pistons when the pistons shift from their neutral position. A signaling device, by its response to the movement of the pistons, provides a warning to the vehicle operator.